Post by sahahaha on May 11, 2006 16:56:54 GMT
World Cup gives Van Nistelrooy chance to leave on own terms
By Oliver Kay
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY will not be rushed into a decision over his future and will use the World Cup finals as a showcase for a talent that has become surplus to Sir Alex Ferguson’s requirements at Manchester United.
The forward accepts that his future probably lies away from Old Trafford after a falling-out with the United manager, but he is unwilling to be forced into a quick move to a club such as Atlético Madrid. Instead he hopes to wait until after he has played for Holland in the World Cup, a tournament that he hopes will provide a stage for him to reawaken the interest shown previously by Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus.
United had hoped for a quick sale to give them more flexibility in the transfer market this summer, but a successful tournament for Van Nistelrooy in Germany could add at least two million pounds to a valuation that has perhaps sunk to about £10 million since he signed a four-year contract in January 2004 to stave off strong interest from Real and Barcelona.
Marco van Basten, the Holland coach, suggested that Van Nistelrooy’s anguish at his treatment by Ferguson in recent months — the striker has been increasingly marginalised after being dropped for the Carling Cup final against Wigan Athletic in February and told that he would play no part in the last Barclays Premiership match of the season, against Charlton Athletic on Sunday, or Roy Keane’s testimonial match against Celtic on Tuesday — will increase his motivation and his country’s prospects in Germany.
“Maybe this will benefit Holland,” Van Basten said. “Maybe it will help us that a great striker of the calibre of Ruud van Nistelrooy feels hurt and angry prior to appearing in the World Cup finals. This can be a good thing for us.”
It might also prove good for United, who are aware of interest from two Spanish clubs — one of them Atlético, whose young forward, Fernando Torres, is a possible replacement for Van Nistelrooy — and more tentative interest from an Italian club, believed to be one of the two Milan giants. There is also a belief that Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on the 29-year-old.
Discussion of Van Nistelrooy’s predicament attracted a mischievous smile on Tuesday by Keane, whose testimonial match came five months after his acrimonious departure from Old Trafford, which stemmed from similar accusations by Ferguson that his attitude towards some of the club’s younger players was damaging team spirit.
“I don’t think it is right for me to comment on the Ruud situation,” Keane said, having taken an apologetic phone call from Van Nistelrooy before the game. “I’m not at the club any more and I don’t know the goings-on. It would be unfair of me to comment. But I get on quite well with Ruud and who knows? I do know there are two sides to every story and maybe one day we will find out.”
Keane hinted strongly that the match — a 1-0 victory for United, whom he represented in the second half — may be the last appearance of his illustrious career as he ponders whether to see out the remaining year of his 18-month contract with Celtic.
He will make a decision after a specialist examines his hip injury in the days and weeks ahead, but, whatever he may have felt at the time, he is now happy to look back at his departure from Old Trafford and accept that it was for the best. “No doubt in my mind about that,” he said. “I accepted it and in fact I agreed with it. It was right. We had come to the end.”
Six months on, Van Nistelrooy is nearing the same conclusion, but his departure is promising to be a more protracted affair, with no resolution expected until late July.
Source - The times www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2174944,00.html
By Oliver Kay
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY will not be rushed into a decision over his future and will use the World Cup finals as a showcase for a talent that has become surplus to Sir Alex Ferguson’s requirements at Manchester United.
The forward accepts that his future probably lies away from Old Trafford after a falling-out with the United manager, but he is unwilling to be forced into a quick move to a club such as Atlético Madrid. Instead he hopes to wait until after he has played for Holland in the World Cup, a tournament that he hopes will provide a stage for him to reawaken the interest shown previously by Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus.
United had hoped for a quick sale to give them more flexibility in the transfer market this summer, but a successful tournament for Van Nistelrooy in Germany could add at least two million pounds to a valuation that has perhaps sunk to about £10 million since he signed a four-year contract in January 2004 to stave off strong interest from Real and Barcelona.
Marco van Basten, the Holland coach, suggested that Van Nistelrooy’s anguish at his treatment by Ferguson in recent months — the striker has been increasingly marginalised after being dropped for the Carling Cup final against Wigan Athletic in February and told that he would play no part in the last Barclays Premiership match of the season, against Charlton Athletic on Sunday, or Roy Keane’s testimonial match against Celtic on Tuesday — will increase his motivation and his country’s prospects in Germany.
“Maybe this will benefit Holland,” Van Basten said. “Maybe it will help us that a great striker of the calibre of Ruud van Nistelrooy feels hurt and angry prior to appearing in the World Cup finals. This can be a good thing for us.”
It might also prove good for United, who are aware of interest from two Spanish clubs — one of them Atlético, whose young forward, Fernando Torres, is a possible replacement for Van Nistelrooy — and more tentative interest from an Italian club, believed to be one of the two Milan giants. There is also a belief that Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on the 29-year-old.
Discussion of Van Nistelrooy’s predicament attracted a mischievous smile on Tuesday by Keane, whose testimonial match came five months after his acrimonious departure from Old Trafford, which stemmed from similar accusations by Ferguson that his attitude towards some of the club’s younger players was damaging team spirit.
“I don’t think it is right for me to comment on the Ruud situation,” Keane said, having taken an apologetic phone call from Van Nistelrooy before the game. “I’m not at the club any more and I don’t know the goings-on. It would be unfair of me to comment. But I get on quite well with Ruud and who knows? I do know there are two sides to every story and maybe one day we will find out.”
Keane hinted strongly that the match — a 1-0 victory for United, whom he represented in the second half — may be the last appearance of his illustrious career as he ponders whether to see out the remaining year of his 18-month contract with Celtic.
He will make a decision after a specialist examines his hip injury in the days and weeks ahead, but, whatever he may have felt at the time, he is now happy to look back at his departure from Old Trafford and accept that it was for the best. “No doubt in my mind about that,” he said. “I accepted it and in fact I agreed with it. It was right. We had come to the end.”
Six months on, Van Nistelrooy is nearing the same conclusion, but his departure is promising to be a more protracted affair, with no resolution expected until late July.
Source - The times www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2174944,00.html